athletics Archives - News and Events

Delta State University fans, alumni and community supporters remember the excitement around the installation of the new artificial turf at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in the summer of 2014. Over the course of the last three seasons, issues within the substructure of the field, which has undergone numerous repairs, have led to it becoming a safety hazard for student-athletes, coaches and staff.

“The safety of our student-athletes, coaches and fans are always at the forefront of every decision we make here at Delta State,” said Ronnie Mayers, director of athletics. “Our goal right now is to aggressively address the field and work on a long-term solution that meets the needs of our program.”

Delta State University’s Foundation is currently in negotiations with a well established Texas-based company to immediately replace the field, its substructure and turf. Construction on the new field should begin the week of Aug. 1 with the hopes of having the project completed by Sept. 2.

“Delta State prides itself on being a family-centered university and we understand how important our alumni and fans are to our successes on the field and in the classroom,”added Mayers. “Your enthusiasm and financial support for the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen have never wavered, and you can rest assured that we are addressing the failures that occurred with the 2014 turf installation. We will keep you informed as we progress through this situation.”

Delta State Athletics and University Advancement has already begun a campaign focused on raising the funds to rebuild the field. A special giving page, including information on the project, will be available online at DeltaStateGiving.org later today.

For more information about the campaign, contact University Advancement director Patrick Hundley at 662-846-4704 or Matt Jones in Athletics at 662-846-4284.

Delta State University cordially invites university supporters to the groundbreaking ceremony for Statesmen Boulevard on July 19 at 2 p.m. at the Dorgan Center on campus.

The Statesmen Boulevard project will create a new and improved gameday traffic entrance for the university’s athletic facilities north of Highway 8 and west of the Bologna Performing Arts Center.

Funding for this project was made possible in part by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration and the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Additionally, there will be a 20 percent local match from Delta State and the City of Cleveland.

Construction will also include improvement of streets around and in front of the football stadium, new sidewalks and street lighting installation, and the construction of new storm drainage piping and fencing.

Senator Thad Cochran played a major role in securing federal funding for the project.

“I am thrilled that the Statesmen Boulevard project is about to commence,” said Delta State President William N. LaForge. “We are finally seeing the fruition of a lot of hard work and planning, including a wonderful amount of support garnered by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, who was able to steer federal money for this project. We are very grateful to the senator. The university also has skin in the game, as we have matched the federal funds with $500,000 that we’ve taken from our budget the last two years to contribute to the cost and support of this project.”

LaForge said that upon completion, the university will have a much improved routing system for sporting event traffic.

“This new routing will curtail the need to go through neighborhoods or cut through campus by the Coliseum, and provide a safer and more efficient transportation flow for all of our fans, alumni and students alike.”

MDOT pitched the Statesmen Boulevard project as a safety issue. By re-routing gameday traffic, students and fans walking and driving to the athletic venues will no longer have to maneuver in high volume traffic between parked cars alongside residences.

“This campus connector project will have a big impact on the Statesmen community,” said Dick Hall, transportation commissioner with MDOT. “It will significantly improve safety and efficiency for residents, students and visitors.”

Delta State Athletic Director Ronnie Mayers is also thrilled to break ground on a new project that will safely welcome fans to campus.

“We are excited to begin construction on Statesmen Boulevard as a new way to welcome fans to Delta State athletic events,” said Mayers. “Delta State is always thankful for its dedicated fans, and this project will provide them a grand entrance as they come to cheer on the Green and White.”

Jeff Barkman, director of Facilities Management at Delta State, said the project would be competed in the spring of 2018.

Delta State University is gearing up for its fourth annual Go Green Weekend on campus April 7-9.

Each spring, students, faculty, staff, alumni and Delta State supporters gather for a full schedule of live entertainment, tailgating, a cooking competition, sporting events and a Spring Preview Day on April 8 from the Office of Admissions.

The family friendly affair is a way for the Delta State community to celebrate all things green and white.

Spring Preview Day continues to grow each Go Green Weekend, as potential students have the opportunity to hear from campus leaders, meet faculty and staff, interact with current students and student organizations, enjoy campus tours, and be a first-hand fan at Delta State athletic events.

“We are focusing on high school juniors and seniors, as well as transfer students,” said Caitlyn Thompson, director of recruiting. “This year, we want our visitors to get the full experience of being a Statesman student. The Office of Admissions will provide information and answer questions, but these incoming students will also be able to engage with the broader Delta State community.”

The Delta State University Alumni Association recently hosted a Reunion of the men’s basketball 1996-98 Gulf South Conference championship teams.

During a dinner banquet, the former players were recognized for their contributions to the basketball program at Delta State. They then received updates on the current basketball program and future plans for athletic facility upgrades from head men’s basketball coach James Boone and Athletic Director Ronnie Mayers.

Special guest former coach Steve Rives shared words of wisdom while catching up with his former teams.

“It is always special when alumni and former staff make their way back to their alma mater,” said Jeffrey Farris, Alumni director. “It was very special to witness the guys relive the camaraderie, team spirit and fellowship that still lives on within our athletic programs today.”

The Delta State University Bolivar County Alumni Chapter will hold its fifth Bolivar County Alumni Night at Walter Sillers Coliseum Jan. 12 when the Lady Statesmen and Statesmen basketball teams take on the University of North Alabama. Games kick off at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

“Alumni night is a great time for our local alums to come out and support our student-athletes and to catch up with each other,” said Gary Crews, Bolivar County Chapter president. “Both our men’s and women’s basketball teams are really giving us something to be excited about this year, and we hope to see everyone there Thursday night.”

The Alumni Association will set up in the coliseum lobby to visit with alumni, discuss upcoming events, and provide free mini basketballs for kids. Alumni who stop by and update their information will have their name put in a drawing to win a free YETI Hopper Cooler, courtesy of the Delta State Foundation office. Active alumni members in attendance who update their information will have their name put in the drawing twice. Inactive members will have the opportunity to join the Alumni Association on site.

There will also be an opportunity for volunteers to sign up to participate in the Bolivar County Alumni Association Planning Committee for 2017.